 ADO opens Play-Down final with win
Nederlands
 THE HAGUE -
THE HAGUE (Neth.) - ADO set its first step towards a spot in next years big league by winning 11-6 on Thursday-evening vs. Almere Magpies in the opener of the best-of-five Play-Down. The winner of this series will remain in the highest division, while the losing team has to play a best-of-five promotion/relegation Play-Off against the champion of the First Division. At this moment, UVV from Utrecht is close to clinching the title in this league. The best-of-five continues next Saturday-evening at Almere.
Almere was able to comeback from a deficit three times, but then failed to hold onto a 6-4 lead when it gave up three runs in the sixth inning and then four more in the seventh. ADO took a quick 3-1 lead after three innings, but then Almer tied the score in the fourth. After ADO had taken the lead again in the home of the fourth, Almere scored three runs in the fifth and sixth inning to make it 6-4 in their favor, before relinquishing the lead.
ADO opened the score with a run in the first inning off starter Roy Beems, who gave up a lead-off single to Berti Richardson (who then stole second) and walked Gino Henson, who came out of retirement to play in this series. With one out, Henson was forced out at second base on a grounder by Remco Seitzinger, but then Richardson was able to score when a throwing error was made trying to complete a double play. Almere tied the score in the second inning when Sytse Visbeen led off with a single, advanced on a failed pick-off and scored on an one-out single by Stefan Hoogewerff.
In the home of the third inning, ADO re-took the lead by scoring two runs. Gino Henson, Koen Meershoek and Remco Seitzinger all singled to give ADO a 2-1 lead. After Almere turned a double play, Roy Beems walked Frans Richardson and was relieved by Ewout Bos, who was greeted with an RBI-single by Stefan Venema to make it 3-1.
Almere tied the score for the second time by scoring twice in the fourth inning. With two outs and Luigino Rosaria on second base, a throwing error followed on a grounder by Juriën Overman to put runners on first and third base. Next, ADO-pitcher Ludwin Obispo was charged with a balk, leading to a run and then Stefan Hoogewerff doubled to make it 3-3.
In its own fourth at bat, ADO took the lead for the third time. With two outs, Gino Henson reached on an error, advanced on a passed ball and scored on a single by Koen Meershoek. Hereafter, ADO got the bases loaded, but then a called strikeout ended the inning.
Almere took the lead for the first time by scoring two runs in the fifth inning. Wesley Bernardus led off with a single and Daniël Zijderveld reached on an error. After the two advanced on a sacrifice bunt, Giovanni Samboe was walked intentionally to set up a force play, but then Luigino Rosaria singled in two runs to make it 5-4 in Almere's favor, before a double play ended the inning. In the sixth, Almere added a run thanks to a single by Jason Orman.
Now trailing 6-4, ADO scored three runs in the home of the sixth inning to take the lead for the fourth time, but this time for good. Berti Richardson, Gino Henson and Koen Meershoek all started the inning with a single to bring in a run, resulting in a pitching change. Forstin Coenraad took over for Ewout Bos and struckout the first batter he faced. Next, Henson and Meershoek went off for a double-steal and a throwing error followed, which tied the score. After Michel Korzeniewski walked, Frans Richardson reached on a fielder's choice, but that enabled Meershoek to score the go-ahead run and make it 7-6.
In the seventh inning, ADO took more distance by scoring four runs on five hits. With one out, Anthony Vrolijk doubled, then Berti Richardson singled. Gino Henson then also singled to bring in a run and the bases got loaded when Koen Meershoek also singled. A strikeout then followed, but and error on a grounder by Michel Korzeniewski gave ADO another run. A single by Frans Richardson accounted for two more runs and increased the lead to 11-6.
In the eighth inning, Forstin Coenraad was relieved by Scott Ronnenbergh, who has returned from his first professional season in the USA. While playing for the Short-season Rookie League-team of the Seattle Mariners in the Arizona League, Ronnenbergh appeared in eight games, all in relief, and was 0-1 with one save. in 12 2/3 inning, the lefthander struckout eight batters, walked eleven and gave up 12 basehits. He pitched in his last game on August 28, before coming back to the Netherlands. The Mariners finished in fourth and last place in the AZL West Division with a 20-36 record.
ADO collected 16 basehits, including four by Koen Meershoek (who scored three runs) and three each by Berti Richardson (who also scored three runs) and Gino Henson (who scored four runs) and appeared in only one other game this season, when he was the catcher on June 15 vs. Almere Magpies. Ludwin Obispo went the distance for ADO, gave up ten hits and struckout five batters.
(September 2)
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